Fat to Fit Series: Thoughts On Diet/Nutrition (Part 2)

Thanks for continuing on with part 2. Glad you came back to read my second post!

1-DRINK WATER

Drink water like you just finished running a marathon through the Saharan desert after eating a whole thing of saltines. Make that a whole box, not just one of the packets inside it. This is one of the few things that all dietitians/nutritionists actually always have and probably always will agree on. The human body can vary from being 55%(avg female) to 65% (avg male) water, and in infants it can be almost 75% (crazy!). The typical person is actually dehydrated and a large portion fatigue can be eliminated by doing this simple thing. It is suggested that you drink eight 8oz a day, with an additional oz of water for every oz of soda, caffeinated beverage, sugary drink you have.

2-It’s All About Balance

Eating nothing but veggies, and spinach salads with vinaigrette on the side for extended lengths of time can be boring to the healthiest of us. Not only is this diet not sustainable but it also causes you to miss out on key nutrients when it comes to balanced meals. Believe it or not we as humans NEED fat in our diet. It would also be extremely hard to get your recommended daily protein from celery. If you do, well you’re just awesome. When it comes to macronutrients for someone who is not making adjustments to their diet to bulk up or change for dietary health concerns given from a physician, it is suggested that 50% of whatever you eat should be made up of carbs, 30% fat, and 20% protein.

3-Not All Calories Are Equal

Just because your granola bar is 100cal compared to the other type that is 300cal doesn’t mean either of them will fill you up the way a 70cal boiled egg will. When it comes to diet, it’s about what you’re eating. Amounts and portion control DO factor into weight loss and health, but I promise you that eating less processed food and more veggies, fruits, complex carbohydrates and protein will help you function better and achieve health goals quicker. Its simple fact that the more protein you eat in your diet the less hungry you feel. Also, eating complex carbs(fiber/starch based) will have naturally greater health benefits as far as nutrients go due to being plant-based when compared to simple sugars. Finally, sugars from fruit doesn’t equal sugar from cary and pop. There is a reason your blood sugar doesn’t spike from grapes and apples the way it does from an ice cream cone.

4-Everyone is DIFFERENT

I don’t care if you’re a cloned from a somatic cell, your biochemistry and metabolism is unique to you. You are a unique little butterfly in this sense. The person sitting next to you, they have a completely different make up than you do. The reason diet A, makes person #1 lose 10lbs while you only lost 2lbs may on some level be because it’s what just works for them and not you. Thats why a lot of extreme diets don’t work, regardless of if the weight loss and diet is sustainable for life. Unfortunately some of us are not as gifted in the metabolism department for whatever reason. Blame it on genetics, blame it on sedentary life, blame it on set points….it doesn’t matter. We are dealt the hand we are given and have to deal with it. The good news is we have options and trial and error is what it may take. But intake control mixed with moderation and exercise can help you achieve health goals that you have. It isn’t impossible, just difficult. But you can do it!

Thats about it for now,

Much love to you all.

-B

ps-I am not a dietician nor am I a physician. This is not medical advice just suggestions from a dieter who has lost significant weight the healthy way….gained it…and it loosing it again.